Our NHS: A History of Britain's Best Loved Institution

Our NHS: A History of Britain's Best Loved Institution cover
Good Books rating 4.17
Buy online
Technical
  • ID: 4467
  • Added: 2025-10-21
  • Updated: 2025-10-21
  • ISBN: 9780300268270
  • Publisher: Yale University Press
  • Published: 2023-01-01
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

Our NHS offers an engaging and inclusive history of the National Health Service, exploring its remarkable survival despite ideological opposition and workforce crises. Andrew Seaton delves into the experiences of patients, staff from Britain and abroad, and the service's supporters and opponents, highlighting the NHS's adaptability and enduring spirit. The book explains how the NHS weathered the neoliberal challenges of the late twentieth century and became a symbol of national identity. Seaton emphasizes the resilience of the NHS, perpetually in crisis yet always enduring, and the political values it embodies, as well as the tireless efforts of those who have kept it running./n/nThis wide-ranging history traces the evolution of the NHS, bringing together diverse perspectives to provide a comprehensive understanding of its past, present, and future. It's a testament to the service's ability to adapt and endure, making it a key marker of British identity. The book also sheds light on the political and social factors that have shaped the NHS over the years, offering insights into its survival and continued relevance.

Reviews
Literary Review · 2025-10-21
detailed 4.50

The book is described as an energetically detailed account of the evolution of the NHS, offering a rich and surprising narrative. It is seen as a valuable contribution to the understanding of the institution.

This review from the Literary Review praises the book for its detailed and energetic account of the NHS's evolution. The reviewer appreciates the book's rich and surprising narrative, which brings to life the history of the institution. They find the book to be a valuable contribution to the understanding of the NHS, offering insights into its development and the challenges it has faced. The reviewer also notes the book's ability to make the history of the NHS accessible and engaging to a wide audience.


Quick quotes

    Andrew Seaton, an American-trained Oxford don and social historian, has produced an energetically detailed account of the evolution of the NHS into an ...

    The story is beautifully told. The author, Andrew Seaton, feels very much part of the story of the NHS, but shows the difficulties of saying whose NHS it is.

    Fluidly written, richly detailed and frequently surprising, Our NHS is the portrait of a social democratic institution that withstood the assaults of ...

Goodreads · 2023-08-22
engaging 4.00

The book is praised for its engaging and inclusive history of the NHS, exploring its survival and the people who have kept it running. It is seen as a well-researched and compelling read.

This Goodreads review highlights the book's engaging and inclusive approach to the history of the NHS. The reviewer appreciates the book's exploration of the institution's survival and the dedication of its staff. They find the book to be well-researched and compelling, offering a fresh perspective on a beloved institution. The reviewer also notes the book's ability to make the history of the NHS accessible and engaging to a wide audience.


Quick quotes

    An engaging, inclusive history of the NHS, exploring its surprising survival—and the people who have kept it running.

    The book provides a comprehensive history of the NHS, highlighting its resilience and the people who have kept it running.

    It offers a balanced view of the institution's challenges and triumphs.

The Guardian · Isabel Hardman · 2023-06-17
informative 4.00

The book provides a comprehensive history of the NHS, highlighting its resilience and the people who have kept it running. It offers a balanced view of the institution's challenges and triumphs.

This review from The Guardian provides a detailed look at the book's exploration of the NHS's history. The reviewer appreciates the book's thorough research and engaging narrative, which brings to life the stories of those who have worked tirelessly to maintain the institution. They also note the book's balanced perspective, acknowledging both the successes and the struggles of the NHS over the years. The reviewer finds the book to be a valuable contribution to the understanding of Britain's most beloved institution.


Quick quotes

    Two books chart the chequered life of Britain's health service from birth to its current state.

    The book provides a comprehensive history of the NHS, highlighting its resilience and the people who have kept it running.

    It offers a balanced view of the institution's challenges and triumphs.